From War to Nationalism
China's Turning Point, 1924–1925

This book investigates the 'warlord' period in China, focusing on the pivotal year 1924.

Arthur Waldron (Author)

9780521523325, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 16 October 2003

416 pages, 29 b/w illus. 7 maps
22.9 x 15.3 x 2.6 cm, 0.64 kg

'I would recommend this work to anyone interested in trying to understand the antecedents of today's China.' Robin Mclaren, Asian Affairs

Scholars have long recognised that Chinese politics changed fundamentally in 1925, when the radical nationalism of the May Thirtieth Movement took political centre stage. This book explains the connection between the beginning of the Nationalist revolution and the introduction of modern World War I style warfare to China. Its focus is the key year 1924, which saw a regional dispute about the status of Shanghai escalate into a massive civil war. Drawing on a wide range of newly-available archival sources, this book shows how the war of 1924 opened the way for radical nationalism, deeply affecting the Chinese economy, society, politics, and foreign relations. Like the author's well-received first book, The Great Wall of China: From History to Myth, this volume moves easily and persuasively from specifics of strategy and politics to the large and abiding issues of Chinese history and culture.

List of illustrations and maps
Preface and acknowledgments
Note on romanization
Characters and events
Introduction
1. China under the Northern system
2. How the wars began
3. Armament and tactics
4. The war in the South
5. The war in the North
6. The war and the economy
7. The war and society
8. The war and the powers
9. The turning point
10. The collapse of the north
11. 1925 - politics in a new key
Conclusion
Major characters
Chronology
Abbreviations used in the notes
Bibliography: Archival sources
Bibliography: Western sources
Bibliography: Chinese and Japanese sources
Glossary
Illustrations and maps.

Subject Areas: 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], Asian history [HBJF]